Chapter 7: The Rescue

Sliding forward Harry melted into the shadow of the next tree along the path. He had become quite proficient in hiding from the sight of unwanted eyes those last few years. Living in twilight had become second nature to him. He had mastered the art of blending into crowds, of merging with the background of his surrounding and so - if necessary - fading from everyone's notice.

He was equally good at tracking. Once Harry had found a trail, nothing could keep him from following. And to be completely honest, like every predator, he loved the hunt. It was in his blood: the exhilaration of knowing the prey was in front of you, scarcely outside your reach but still close enough to move in whenever you decided to end it. The feeling of taut muscles, ready to jump at a moment's notice. It was intoxicating.

And never before more so than now. The air around him was filled with the thickly sweet scent of his prey, sandalwood combined with sweat and a deep musky odour that almost drove him to a frenzy.

Shocked at the way his thoughts were taking Harry pressed himself hard against the cool bark of the oak tree he was currently hiding behind. He was so not interested in the smell of that man. Not at all. He was just following Snape to make sure he was okay. Coursing at his more animalistic traits he almost missed said Potions Professor moving on.

Harry had trailed the man for a little more than a week, starting shortly after their first encounter at the market. He had later learned about Michel and Snape's reason to be there from his friend Ron. Now that the initial contact with the Claw of the Lion had been made, progress for the professor was fast. He had had meetings every other day, working his way up in the chain of command, finally culminating in today's where he would be let to their archon.

It was just Harry's luck that it had to be now of all days. And predictably the meeting couldn't have taken place at some godly hour. No, it had to be at night. The night of the full moon.

Letting out a silent growl that sounded suspiciously like a snarl he followed Snape deeper into the park. He hated this particular night. It wasn't that he lost complete control over his senses although it was often hard to rain in his predatory urges. No, it was the feeling of helplessness he loathed. At this time of the month his magical powers were all but gone, leaving him not much above the level of a squib. It was bothersome, especially as he had started to sorely rely on his magic during his years at Hogwarts. Like every wizard he had begun to depend on spells and charms freely at his disposal. But the loss was a price to be paid and it was a small one for being allowed to remain in the world of the living.

Harry threw the yellow globe in the sky that started to shine brighter the farther night approached a dirty look. It really grated on Harry's nerves that the most important part of the mission fell on the night of the full moon. He just hoped that nothing would happen because he sure as hell wouldn't be able to magic them out of it. He was useless, a fact which he couldn't stand.

It was getting darker by the minute, which posed no problem for Harry. He could see better in pitch blackness than in the light of the day. But he noticed that it was troubling Snape. He watched as the man got out his wand and illuminated his surrounding with a, 'Lumos.'

His wand-end now alight the Potions Professor left the asphalted main walk and entered a wooden area along a narrow path leading up a hill. Staying out of sight Harry followed the faint, almost non existent noises of Snape's progress. He admired the man's stealth though it was no match for his superior sense of hearing. He could pick out a heart beat about half a mile away if necessary. And so it was no hardship to make out the panting of three other people finding their way to the top of the hill from the opposite side.

Now it wouldn't be long until the meeting. Stopping in his tracks, Harry decided that here would be the perfect spot for waiting. He was still in the wood though only a short distance form the area where it was thinning out. Moving up a tree in fluid motions that were almost too fast to be followed with the naked eye he settled down on a branch in a deep crouch. From there he could easily observe the whole scene.

Now the three people were already close enough to be noticed by Snape. They didn't have any additional source of light with them, though this could be attributed to their familiarity with their surrounding. They were shaking hands and whispering, their voices nevertheless travelling far through the cloudless night air. It was a good thing that Harry spoke fluently French by now.

'Severus Snape?' one of the people asked.

'Yes,' the Potions Professor answered, while lowering his wand as not to appear in a threatening manner.

'I will cast a truth spell, so that we can be sure of your good intentions. Is this ok with you?' the same man went on.

Snape just nodded, only wincing a little as the magic was coursed through him. 'Are you Claude Mieusset?' he finally queried.

'That would be me,' came the reply from one of the wizards who had kept to the back so far. Stepping forward he lifted the hood from his face, revealing a surprisingly young face. He couldn't be more than 25 years and he was already the leader of an underground organisation?

Well, I am one to talk! Harry chuckled at himself. If Snape had any doubts about the archon he didn't show them.

'I have come to negotiate a treaty of cooperation. You could benefit from our resources while helping us with some tasks that will have to be carried out soon and in silence. I trust I can rely on your discretion.' Snape didn't seem to have lost his flair for dramatics.

Paying closer attention to the Claw of the Lion's operatives Harry tried to assess their abilities. From the way they moved all three of them were fighters, though he'd bet his Firebolt that Claude could wipe the floor with the other two. Harry decided that he liked that man. He could never respect those supposedly leaders who were talking in big words but couldn't pull their own weight when push came to pull.

He was also fairly sure that the one who had talked at first could be trusted. He had arrived with his face uncovered, allowing his opposite to study him. And there had been no change in the rate of his heart beat while he was speaking, so passing his internal lie detector.

As Harry concentrated on the third of the trio he felt his hackles rise. He was sweating profoundly despite the cold breeze turning the spring night outright chilly. And he smelled like fear. There was definitely something fishy about that guy.

Straining all of his senses to his limits he started to scan the surrounding. But he couldn't detect anything out of the normal. Just the usual hooting of owls or crawling of tiny feet, the rustling of leaves and chirping of crickets. There was no strange movement or light. Perhaps the man was only afraid of Snape, he could get downright scary if he wanted to. Although this wouldn't throw a good light on the agent's braveness.

Suddenly Harry was startled by the sound of several pops, as if the air itself had been displaced. Almost like someone who had APPERATED? Oh, shit.

In the next moment all hell broke loose. From every side dark figures darted out of the wood, launching curses at the people in the clearing. There was a cry of surprise followed by a thud as the one who had spoken first went down. The others had been able to erect shields in time to avoid being hit.

'Charles, how is this possible? We have put up anti-apperition wards! You yourself controlled them this afternoon,', Claude yelled. He and Snape were standing back to back, sending out spells of their own. But their attackers were well protected, only one of them had fallen so far to a Pertificus Totalus cast by the Portions Professor. The two tried to back up but they were being circled. There simply was no room to manoeuvre for them any more.

'Well yes, I controlled them and they were in perfect order. At least until the time I left. I fear afterwards they were disabled. Avada Kedavra!' with that the third man attacked his leader.

There was an expression of utter disbelieve on Claude's face as the curse hit home, throwing him to the ground withering in the throws of death.

Snape realizing that he was on his own made a full 360 degrees turn. He was surrounded and completely outnumbered. There were at least 8 of them!

'Give it up, traitor. Hand over your wand and come with us. So you will put off the pain at least for a little while. We don't care about hurting you or not. Our Lord only ordered us to get you to him alive,' one of the Death Eaters hissed at him.

Still sitting in the tree Harry had watched the disaster play out, dread turning his stomach into an icicle. They had been betrayed! And he couldn't interfere, not with his magical powers gone. But he couldn't stay here and leave Snape to his fate either. There was no chance for the man to get out of this alive without help. Fear gripped his heart.

Damn! Damn! Damn! He had to do something. Though if he went in there he couldn't leave any witnesses. Voldemort learning about THIS was no option, which meant he had to kill them all. Every single one of them.

Oh, Merlin, help me! Harry prayed but there was no answer. It was his decision. Snape or the Death Eaters. 1 against 8. The feeling of numbness spread from his stomach into the rest of his body.

Swallowing once he stood up. There was no decision to be made at all. It had been done a long time ago. Looking up at the moon he clenched his hands into fists. This is going to hurt, he thought.

AN: Did you like/hate it so far? Are you interested in more? Tell me please!